she would. But do you blame her? My princess looks spectacular.” My father’s attention had shifted so that he was looking at me now; and the same look my mom wore before she burst into tears settled onto his aging features. “I’m so happy I’m alive to see this moment.” He pulled me into a warm hug. “I love you, princess.”
“I love you too, dad.” I smiled slightly, before turning back to Katherine and nodding.
“I’ll let them know,” she replied, before disappearing.
“Are you ready kiddo?” My father grinned, looking down at me.
“Dad, I’m 25. No longer a ‘kiddo,’” I grumbled.
“Oh. Well excuse me, Miss Maturity now?” he grumbled. “This wedding business is getting to your head.”
I frowned and opened my mouth to reply just as another, louder voice spoke up.
“All rise for the bride.”
It was then that the collective whispers that I had not noticed in the background fell to a complete silence, just as a loud burst of the organ echoed throughout the large room.
My father linked his arm in with mine; his face radiating with emotion as he nodded down at me. I smiled and kissed his cheek before nodding in return.
We began our long descent down the aisle. My gaze briefly flickered over to the guests that were by my side and I smiled at those with familiar faces while focusing on my footing underneath the puffy dress.
Suddenly, I felt the dress become half the weight it was before and heard Amy’s puffing come from behind me as she lifted up the train of my dress in an attempt to make it easier for me to walk. My eyes then went back to the little boy in front of me, and I held back a laugh as Sienna’s son Michael walked with as much caution as he could muster up while focusing on the rings in front of him.
Then I looked up at Adrian. I understood what movies were now trying to portray during wedding scenes; but they didn’t do it well enough. I think Adrian was also eating up his earlier words as he looked at me from his standing position at the altar; the both of us fighting back grins. It didn’t even feel like my father was beside me, walking me down the aisle anymore. Any additional decorations and even the loud harmonic tune of the organ faded away as I arrived in front of my soon-to-be husband and he smiled down at me with an all too familiar glazed look in his eye.
My father kissing my cheek and pulling me into another brief hug was what pulled me out of my trance, and I quickly wrapped my own arms around his thick torso before we both pulled away. Amy had taken my bouquet out of my hands and was now standing with Anna, Claire and Molly just as I took my position across from Adrian and looked over at a grinning Blake, a smirking Allen and two more of Adrian’s friends, Daniel and Mathew.
The minister began. “We are gathered here today on this happy and joyous occasion to join this man, and this woman, in holy matrimony.”
“Tonight won’t be holy, I can assure you that, Shortcake.” Adrian whispered with a smirk.
My eyes widened and I felt my entire face heat up in shock and mortification before I looked over at the minster, hoping he didn’t hear Adrian’s hushed promise.
Thankfully, the old man continued without hesitation. “Marriage is a solemn institution to be held in honour by all, it is the cornerstone of the family and of the community. It requires of those who undertake it a complete and unreserved giving of one's self. It is not to be entered into lightly, as marriage is a sincere and mutual commitment to love one another. This commitment symbolizes the intimate sharing of two lives and still enhances the individuality of each of you.”
“When do we get to kiss?” Adrian asked the minister, initiating a collective gasp, followed by a few chuckles in the large room.
The minister – who looked like he was about to slap Adrian for disrespecting the tradition – answered snippily. “You’ll be able to kiss your bride soon enough.”
“I want to kiss her now. Let’s skip all the ‘I do’s’ for now; we wouldn’t be here if we didn’t want to love, comfort, honour and keep each other in sickness and in health, remaining faithful to each other for as long as you both shall live if we weren’t certain of our